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Spain's national team head coach Luis Aragones for the first time in ten years did not include talismanic striker Raul in the squad preparing for next month's 2008 European Championship qualifying match against Sweden.
For the past decade, the 29-year-old striker has been the mainstay of the Spanish national team, but this time L. Aragones made a bold decision and did not include the Madrid "Real" striker in the squad for "reasons unrelated to injuries."
Since his early days in professional football, he has been under immense pressure and scrutiny, with constant talk and advice in recent years to announce the end of his career.
This week, the player appeared as in old times in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League match against Kiev's "Dynamo", which the capital club won 5-1, expressing his desires and intentions loudly.
However, the exclusion of the "Real" legend from the national team was undoubtedly a painful blow. Team coach L. Aragones, by removing him from the squad, looked to the future.
After Raul was left out of the squad, the coach only included two true strikers - David Villa, who plays for "Valencia", and Fernando Torres, the symbol of Madrid's "Atletico", who will play in the October 7 match against the Swedes.
D. Villa's new teammate Joaquin was also not called up to the national team, and he was followed by defender Mariano Pernia and midfielder Borja Oubina, as L. Aragones wants changes in his team, which unexpectedly lost to Northern Ireland at the beginning of this month.
Defenders Michel Salgado and Carlos Marchena will be unable to help the team due to injuries, while Juan Capdevila and Miguel Angel Angulo, who can play as strikers, were called up to the national team.
Spain's national team lineup:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas ("Real"), Pepe Reina ("Liverpool").
Defenders: Antonio Lopez ("Atletico"), Pablo Ibanez ("Atletico"), Carles Puyol ("Barcelona"), Juanito ("Betis"), Joan Capdevila ("Deportivo"), Sergio Ramos ("Real").
Midfielders: Cesc Fabregas ("Arsenal"), Jose Antonio Reyes ("Real"), Andres Iniesta ("Barcelona"), Xavi ("Barcelona"), Luis Garcia ("Liverpool"), Xabi Alonso ("Liverpool"), David Albelda (Valencia), Miguel Angel Angulo (Valencia).
Forwards: Fernando Torres ("Atletico"), David Villa ("Valencia").
